Warsop murder accused turned up at pub with wounds, court hears

TWO men accused of murder turned up at a pub with wounds after they allegedly beat a former Ruddington newsagent to death, a court heard.

Stephen Shreeves had a cut on his wrist, while Kelvin Dale had a cut on his knuckle tended to by staff at the Hare and Hounds pub, in Warsop, on October 8 last year.

The pair are among four people on trial for the murder of former newsagent Clifford Collinge, 61, who suffered 46 injuries in the attack in October, including a head injury, fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and a cardiac embolism.

Barmaids at the pub told Nottingham Crown Court yesterday that they treated Shreeves' and Dale's injuries. Shreeves claimed he had cut himself falling over in the car park.

Bar worker Kerry Stuart said in a statement which was read to the court: "I fetched the first aid kit from behind the bar and Karen cleaned the wound."

She added: "Kelvin (Dale) went to the toilet and when he came back asked for four plasters. I saw he had a small nick on his left knuckle.

"Kelvin had blood splashes on both sleeves."

The court also heard a statement from Ms Stuart's co-worker Karen Sims which said she saw Kerry serve two men at the bar at 9.30pm.

She said: "One had a diagonal cut to his right wrist. I said 'what have you been up to?' and the man said he had fallen in the car park outside.

"Kerry put plasters in a cross onto the wound but they wouldn't stick. I then took a bandage and bandaged his wrist."